The Positive Approach Starts to Wear Thin

It's clear now the Angels just don't have anything for the White Sox.

The Angels made some shake-em-up moves, they learned their lessons from mistakes past and it still didn't help.

Mike Scioscia actually got some results from his lineup reconfiguration and an Angel catcher finally tagged out A.J. Pierzynski on a third strike and still they wound up heading in the wrong direction, losing to the Chicago White Sox, 8-2, Saturday in their worst defeat of the playoffs.

The telltale sign things aren't going the Angels' way: We've seen more pumped fists from Doug Eddings than Francisco Rodriguez, who hasn't made an appearance since Game 1.

Another indication of an American League championship series gone wrong: White Sox leadoff hitter Scott Podsednik reached base four times Saturday; Angels leadoff hitter Chone Figgins has been on base twice in the series.

Down, 3-1, in the best-of-seven series, the Angels' season could be over as early as today.

Not only is time running out, Scioscia's running out of moves.

He changed lineup spots two through seven and replaced designated hitter Juan Rivera with Casey Kotchman. It did pay off, a little, when Kotchman had a double that scored Garret Anderson and a single that advanced Darin Erstad, who scored on a hit by Bengie Molina.

The only step remaining would be too drastic: bench Figgins and Vladimir Guerrero, the Angels' catalyst and most valuable player in the regular season who have combined to hit two for 30 in the series.

All that's left is an attitude adjustment for a team that can't afford to think positive anymore.

"It's time to get angry," second baseman Adam Kennedy said. "Positive is out the window right now."

While the Angels need a complete makeover, the White Sox have their routine down. Get a complete game from the pitcher. Get some runners on and let Paul Konerko bring them in with a home run in the first inning, then let everyone else run themselves into scoring position. Get by with a little help from the umps.

Pierzynski, who was allowed to reach first in Game 2 after Eddings ruled Angel catcher Josh Paul didn't catch strike three (even though Eddings balled his fist in an out motion), was involved in another controversial play behind the plate. In the bottom of the second, with Bengie Molina on first base and Kotchman on third, Pierzynski's glove nicked Finley's bat on a swing. Finley was pointing back toward home plate as he ran to first -- which proved costly because he was out by a step to complete the double play.